UFT endorses Bill de Blasio for NYC mayor

Joins Teamsters, Bill and Hillary Clinton

September 18, 2013 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Saying that City Hall and teachers need to work together to ensure that New York City kids receive the best education possible, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) on Wednesday endorsed Democratic mayoral candidate Bill de Blasio.

This comes on the heels of endorsements by both former Secretary of State Hillary and former President Bill Clinton. De Blasio was Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager in her 2000 Senate run.

Also on Wednesday, the Teamsters Joint Council 16 announced its support.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew had backed Bill Thompson before de Blasio won the Democratic primary. The union called a meeting of its delegates assembly earlier on Wednesday, and the delegates voted to support de Blasio.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mulgrew said, “Bill de Blasio, whose children attend our public schools, understands that our children deserve a real education, not just test prep, and that our educators deserve support and encouragement, not attacks. It’s time for our teachers and City Hall to stand together to deliver the best education possible for our students. Bill de Blasio is the leader who will make it happen.”

“I’m honored to receive the endorsement of our city’s hardworking teachers,” de Blasio said. “During the Bloomberg years, our educators were too often treated as adversaries instead of partners. It’s time for a change. As mayor, I will work with the teachers who serve our students every day in the classroom to strengthen our public school system, and provide a first-class education to all of our children.”

The UFT, with 200,000 members, has not backed a winning mayoral candidate in New York City since David Dinkins’ run in 1989.

In a poll of 930 likely voters conducted Sunday and Monday, de Blasio led Republican candidate Joe Lhota 65 to 22 percent.